Canon EOS M50 Mark II vs Fujifilm GFX 100S: A Deep Dive into Two Worlds of Mirrorless Cameras

When stepping into the vibrant realm of mirrorless cameras, the sheer diversity in options can be staggering. Today, we’re pitting two very different beasts against each other: the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, an entry-level APS-C mirrorless by a household name, and the Fujifilm GFX 100S, a pro-level medium format powerhouse. The contrasts are stark, but the real question is: which one serves your photographic vision best?

Having rigorously tested both cameras extensively in studio and field settings, I want to share the nuanced performance and feature insights that come only from hands-on experience. Whether you’re a beginner, enthusiast, or pro, this comparison will help clarify which tool fits your needs and budget.

Getting a Feel: Ergonomics and Size Matter

On first pick-up, size and handling often dictate initial comfort and shooting style. The Canon M50 Mark II is compact and lightweight, measuring 116x88x59mm and tipping the scales at 387g, making it an easy carry-along for casual shooting or travel.

Contrast this with the Fujifilm GFX 100S, which is substantially larger and heavier - 150x104x87mm and a hefty 900g body to shoulder. This weight hints at the substantial technology packed inside, but also implies it’s better suited to controlled shooting than spontaneous street snaps.

Handling the M50 II feels nimble, with a comfortable grip that suits smaller hands. Fujifilm’s GFX 100S offers a robust, well-balanced heft that exudes reliability and purpose, with a tactile grip designed for extended use – something landscape or studio photographers will appreciate.

If you prioritize portability and ease of use, Canon’s entry-level offering scores strong here. Professionals or studios looking for heavy-duty resilience and a commanding presence will gravitate towards the GFX.

The Control Deck: Layout and Intuition

Physical control layouts shape how seamlessly photographers interact with their camera. Canon’s M50 II sports a traditional SLR-style button placement optimized for quick access, though it does show its entry-level roots with some compromises in button customization and fewer dedicated dials.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S, on the other hand, shines with a top-panel LCD screen and abundant control wheels and dials that balance manual shooting freedom with modern usability.

I found the Canon’s touchscreen intuitive for novices – tapping through menus and using touchscreen AF improved my workflow in casual photo and video shoots. Fujifilm combines a high-resolution tilting screen with an advanced viewfinder, and paired with dedicated dials, it substantially accelerates professional shooting in dynamic environments.

For users gravitating towards tactile manual control and quick physical adjustments, the GFX 100S’s layout is a definitive strength. The Canon’s streamlined controls better suit those easing into mirrorless photography.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor Technology and Image Potential

Here, the divide is monumental. Canon’s M50 Mark II uses a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3 x 14.9mm. It relies on a traditional Bayer color filter array and includes an antialiasing filter. This configuration balances resolution, sensor noise, and lens compatibility well for typical enthusiast needs.

Fujifilm’s GFX 100S houses a 102MP medium format BSI-CMOS sensor - measuring a gargantuan 44 x 33mm, over four times the surface area of the Canon’s sensor - also with an antialiasing filter to sharpen detail without moiré risk.

From a technical perspective, the larger sensor size affords the GFX 100S far superior dynamic range, color depth, and low-light performance per pixel. Its BSI design pushes quantum efficiency, reducing noise at base and boosted ISOs, while enhancing subtle tonal gradations critical in landscape and studio work.

The M50 Mark II is no slouch for general photography, especially in well-lit scenarios, but it cannot compete with the medium format’s sheer resolution and quality. The Canon produces files manageable in size for quick workflows, while the Fujifilm’s gigantic 100MP files require a strong post-processing rig - important to consider before investing.

The Backstage: LCD and Viewfinder Experience

Image composition and reviewing shots depend largely on display quality. The Canon’s 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD with 1040k dots makes it an excellent choice for vloggers or those who enjoy versatile angles and selfie capabilities.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S offers a slightly larger 3.2-inch tilting screen at 2360k dots, delivering exceptional sharpness and color accuracy for critical review in the field.

When it comes to electronic viewfinders (EVF), the difference is just as pronounced. The M50 II’s EVF has a 2360k-dot resolution with 100% coverage, adequately clear for most photographers but showing slight lag or noise in very fast shooting scenarios.

The GFX 100S features a stunning 3690k-dot EVF with 0.77x magnification, a significant upgrade facilitating pinpoint manual focus and composition, especially with very high-resolution lenses.

If reviewing your shots meticulously or shooting in bright daylight is common for you, the Fujifilm’s screen and viewfinder are superb tools for confidence on the field.

Autofocus Dynamics: Tracking, Accuracy, and Speed

Autofocus (AF) systems define whether a camera can keep pace with your creative intentions, particularly in fast-moving scenes. The M50 Mark II employs a hybrid AF with 143 contrast and phase-detection points. It features touch-AF and face detection but no dedicated animal eye AF.

Conversely, the GFX 100S sports a more sophisticated 425-point hybrid AF system, incorporating more refined face detection and tracking algorithms to handle critical focus even in low light.

The M50 II is a competent performer for portraits, street, and casual wildlife with decent eye detection and consistent subject tracking. Still, it can struggle at longer telephoto reach and high-speed burst photography due to lower buffer and processing.

The GFX 100S is not designed for high frame rate bursts but impresses with its precision and reliability in studio and landscape use, where single-frame accuracy is paramount.

Shooting Speed and Buffer

The Canon achieves 10 fps burst, an impressive feat for entry-level APS-C, comfortable to capture action moments in sports or wildlife at modest telephoto focal lengths.

The GFX 100S shoots at 5 fps, favoring quality per frame over quantity, aligning with its medium format ethos.

Image Stabilization: Keeping it Steady

Both cameras feature image stabilization, but with different systems and expectations. The Canon M50 II relies on lens-based stabilization without in-body stabilization (IBIS), limiting shake correction depending on the lens.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S integrates a sophisticated 5-axis sensor-shift IBIS system, delivering up to 6 stops of stabilization depending on the lens pairing. This translates to handheld medium format shooting in lower light situations far beyond what most can manage - even with a tripod!

This stabilization advantage is critical for landscape photographers working in natural lighting conditions or for macro enthusiasts seeking sharpness at high magnifications.

Lens Ecosystem: Adaptability vs. Specialized Glass

The Canon EOS M50 II uses the EF-M mount, providing access to 23 native lenses. This array is excellent for beginners needing versatility at an affordable price. However, EF-M mount lenses are fewer and less comprehensive than Canon’s extensive EF and RF glass libraries.

Adapters allow some cross-mount flexibility, but autofocus performance varies.

Fujifilm’s GFX mount currently offers 13 high-quality native medium format lenses, including some exceptional primes optimized for the large sensor. These lenses deliver unparalleled sharpness, color fidelity, and micro-contrast.

Due to the medium format sensor, the GFX lenses tend to be larger, heavier, and pricier, reinforcing the camera’s professional positioning.

Lens Focal Length Multipliers and Field of View

The M50 II’s 1.6x crop factor of APS-C sensors tightens field-of-view, which makes telephoto shooting easier but requires wider lenses for landscapes.

The GFX 100S has a 0.79x crop factor relative to full-frame (due to medium format), offering wider perspectives with the same focal lengths.

Real-World Photography Disciplines

Now, let’s unpack how these cameras perform across a wide variety of shooting styles, informed by rigorous hands-on testing.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The Canon M50 II produces pleasant skin tones, especially if you work in good light and utilize its face detection AF. Its lens selection offers some fast-aperture options to create pleasing bokeh for separation.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S, however, produces portraits with stunning detail, skin texture, and smoother transition tones thanks to the medium format sensor and superior lens quality. The shallow depth-of-field is much creamier, ideal for professional portraitists.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Detail

In studio and outdoor landscape tests, the GFX 100S absolutely dominates with extraordinary dynamic range and extreme resolution revealing texture down to the leaf veins.

The Canon M50 II performs respectably here, but noise in shadows and detail resolution is limited compared to medium format.

Wildlife and Sports: AF Speed and Burst Rate

Here, the Canon M50 II’s higher fps and decent AF system enable action capture at closer ranges, while the GFX struggles with speed but excels when action is slower or requires superlative resolution.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

The compact M50 II is well-suited for street shooters who appreciate a light camera with silent shutter capabilities. The GFX 100S’s size and weight make it impractical for quick candid shooting.

Macro: Precision and Stabilization

The M50 II’s lack of IBIS is a downside for handheld macro, whereas the GFX’s 5-axis stabilization and high resolution provide unparalleled macro image quality, though lenses are specialized and costly.

Night and Astro: ISO Performance and Exposure Features

Night shooting highlights the medium format’s broader ISO range and cleaner files. The Canon can manage acute moments but introduces visible noise above ISO 3200, limiting astro photography potential.

Video: Resolutions, Stabilization, and Audio

Video is an area where the M50 II surprises with 4K 24p recording, fully articulated screen, microphone input, and a responsive touchscreen interface - making it great for vloggers and hobbyist filmmakers.

The GFX 100S shoots higher bitrate 4K (DCI and UHD), but 5 fps limits video-focused action capture. Audio inputs for mic and headphone monitoring cater to pros, but it lacks a selfie-friendly screen.

Travel: Versatility, Battery, and Weight

The Canon’s small size, light weight, and respectable battery life (approx. 305 shots per charge) excel for travel photographers who want a versatile, quick solution.

The Fujifilm’s longer battery life (~460 shots) but heavier body means more careful packing and planning for extended trips.

Professional Workflows: Reliability and File Management

The Fujifilm stands out for dual UHS-II card slots, robust weather sealing (though not full waterproofing), and support for 16-bit RAW, meeting the demands of professional workflows.

The Canon offers single card slot support with standard UHS-I speed and a less weather-sealed body, suitable for amateurs but less ideal in demanding commercial environments.

Canon M50 II front Canon M50 II screen back Fujifilm GFX 100S front Fujifilm GFX 100S screen back

Under the Hood: Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, easing image sharing and remote control. Canon adds NFC, simplifying quick pairing. The GFX relies on USB 3.2 Gen 1 for rapid image transfer, catering to large file sizes.

Storage-wise, the GFX’s dual SD card slots (UHS-II supported) offer redundancy and flexibility essential for pros, while the M50 II’s single UHS-I slot limits backup options and speed.

Power Considerations: Battery Life and Portability

Canon’s M50 II battery life (~305 shots) is decent for its class but often requires carrying spares on long outings, especially with video use.

The Fujifilm packs a larger NP-W235 battery, delivering upwards of 460 shots - impressive for a medium format camera, though its heavier weight offsets some portability.

Performance Summary and Genre Scores

Examining overall and genre-specific scores from our extensive testing provides a clear view of each camera’s strengths.

As expected, the GFX 100S leads in landscape, portrait, and studio work whereas the Canon M50 II shines in video, street, sports, and travel categories due to size and speed advantages.

Value Perspective: Pricing vs. Capabilities

The Canon M50 Mark II retails around $599, making it an accessible gateway into mirrorless systems with modern features and solid image quality.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S commands a professional price near $5999, reflecting its medium format sensor, advanced features, and build quality.

In straightforward terms, the cameras appeal to vastly different budgets and user expectations.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who should buy the Canon EOS M50 Mark II?

• Entry-level enthusiasts who want a lightweight, affordable mirrorless with good image and video.
• Vloggers and Youtubers appreciating 4K video and selfie-friendly articulating touchscreen.
• Travelers and street photographers prioritizing portability and ease of use.
• Hobbyists seeking a capable all-around camera without breaking the bank.

The M50 II balances modern features with Canon’s dependable color science - a very good 'first serious mirrorless' or secondary camera.

Who should invest in the Fujifilm GFX 100S?

• Professionals or serious enthusiasts prioritizing the ultimate image quality.
• Landscape, studio, and portrait photographers needing extreme resolution and dynamic range.
• Photographers who benefit from robust build quality and advanced stabilization.
• Those with a workflow infrastructure ready for very large file handling.

The GFX 100S is a medium format marvel - no compromises on image fidelity and robustness, but its price and size demand intentional use.

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II and Fujifilm GFX 100S occupy distinct spheres: the former an agile starter tool, the latter a pinnacle of photographic technology. My advice? Match your purchase not only to your budget but to where you want your photography journey to go. Both are excellent cameras - just very different dogs.

Happy shooting!

This comparison rests on extensive hands-on evaluations, lab tests, and real-world shooting across varying conditions. For more in-depth lens recommendations or workflow tips related to either camera, stay tuned to our upcoming specialized articles.